Houston - November 3, 2003 - CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (NYSE:CNP) today announced that its natural gas distribution, pipelines and gathering operations subsidiary, CenterPoint Energy Resources Corp. (CERC), issued $160 million principal amount of senior unsecured notes in a placement with institutions under Rule 144A. The senior unsecured notes have a coupon rate of 5.95 percent and will be due on Jan. 15, 2014.

CERC accepted $140 million aggregate principal amount of CERC's 6.375 percent Term Enhanced ReMarketable Securities (TERMS) due in November and $1.25 million as consideration for the notes. CERC retired the TERMS and used the remaining proceeds to finance costs of issuance and for general corporate purposes.

The securities have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration under that Act.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, any security and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offering would be unlawful.

For more information contact:
Media: Leticia Lowe, 713.207.7702
Investors: Marianne Paulsen, 713.207.6500